Resonance

Mackinaw

Current mood:



Because we drove seven hours
to see a bridge.



Mom's been fascinated by it for years now
and today was a lovely day for it.

_

Reunited

...but not really.

By the time the "pet resort" opened for pickups,

Nu and Big A had already left for Ecocamp...

And At was at work at the Abdul office until late.

"Where's everyone?" They asked.

_

Lovenotes

to secrete into Nu's backpack--

she'll be gone for a whole week.

And I know I'll miss her so; and

I know she'll have so much fun.

-

From N and R's Wedding

Road Trip Fun

I cried for three hours straight with this song on repeat. 

(Mostly in PA.)

I am frequently ridiculous.

_

Progress is Sexy

The defining measurement for this bicycle shed
came from the length of our tandem bike.
I can't wait for all our joint adventures.

As the writing deadlines loomed,
I did dream about this lot a lot
(After I cleaned teverything

In the time-honored
tradition of writers
everywhere.)

_

Life's Beach-y

It was so hot at the beach today...

Kirk Park Beach allows doggies off-leash,

but Scout Akshaya and Huck Amulya 

were a bit skittish and stayed close to mama.

One with all the kids--whenever their album comes out, 

this pic could go on the cover.

_

Hikes with L

I've been waking up earlier to go on hikes with neighbor L who has lived here for a long time and seems to know the most fun trails all around. A moment where the weather, time away from teaching, and my life crush (L is totally life goals for me) come together.

Over the past week, we've seen everything.

From tucked-away horticultural gardens,

to forest paths,

to graffiti wonderlands

(this one under a Red Cedar River bridge).

_

Field Trip All Day

Greenfield Village: Nu's backpack holds 

bug spray, sunscreen, lunch, a water bottle, 

phone, headphones, assorted purchases 

and THREE books she brought from home.

When Nu went to pretend suffragette jail. 

We'd just watched excerpts from Iron Jawed Angels* in there 

and her expression while appropriate, nevertheless cracks me up. 

Both girls were horrified that women were not allowed to attend college.

The real, actual, Rosa Parks Bus. 

I loved that  Nu remembered 

the statue of Rosa Parks sitting in the Capitol 

from our D.C. visit two years ago.

"Everyone else is standing, but she gets to sit."

* And as I linked to the film's Wikipedia link, I was mildly horrified both by the lack of a hyphen in the title and the gratuitous seminudity on the poster. Really?!?

We Love the 80s

At first the birthday party was all


Then this happened

 

I'm so glad Big A got back from a week-long conference in Indy
so I could show up to L's party on time.


_

Maps

My heart's fierce routes traverse here
maps curve cathedral arms out there

feelings scrambling across my face
in the stutter of heightened fights

I can miss all the people you have been,
the punctuation and pitch of your voices

I can learn all the places you have been
this body is--those borders are--prisons

I fill my thoughts with plots. Of weeping
until we drown--all the places in this town


_

The Prodigal Couple

It was good meeting so many old friends this week. We spent an evening with LV and NF and their families; had lunch with NM and his family today; and went to the M's NYE party where we saw EVERYONE.

Walking back from Stafford St. in the feathery snow and single-digit cold, Big A said that it's kind of fun, because people are so excited to see us even if we weren't that special when we actually lived here. It's true :) .

We got back 11-ish, so we could hang out with the kids and grandparents until midnight and chanted the countdown into 2018. I so want this year to be better than the last couple of years.

And I should take better pictures.

_

Dinner

@The Winds

They're showing N's beauteous Persia collection on the walls.

_

Time to go

Last night, I dreamt that I was looking over grandmother's old house by the sea. I was talking to my aunt and Big A about how it would make sense to get it (buy it?). I think we had decided to go for it until I remembered that the water from the faucets used to stain everything grey and wondered if that still happened and were there loud trains in the backyard?

The night before that, I dreamt of huge temple festival crowds. And among them, I found my mother with her friends. They were in full temple-going mode--vibrant silk saris and gem-studded jewelry and... were taking turns standing on a grate. Mom was so embarrassed to see me, but managed to hug me tight and whisper that I shouldn't tell anyone.

Both dreams were dotted with apocalyptic climate change motifs--rising seas, shimmering heat, crop failures--I blame the eco-criticism-ecofeminism class.

Is This Land is Your Land? 

Environment and Culture in the Anthropocene 

ENG 180/WGS 280

_

So Far Away

At had us pose for this pic 

up at Aunt R's place on Lake Huron 

so he could put it up in his dorm. 

"Don't turn around," he called out 

as we walked up the dock, 

"don't look back."

_

I keep looking

for the secret.

_

Nothing is Impossible

@The Broad

_

Hamilton, Sir.

At didn't want to miss prom

so just those of us who're 

not going to college 

_

It's Kind of Silly, Really

How 

I end up 

loving every class.

Potter Park Zoo 

and then

I made them lunch

_